LAKKI MARWAT: The district chapter of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl has sought applications for award of party tickets for the one national and three provincial assembly seats for the next general elections.

The decision was taken at a meeting held here on Saturday chaired by JUI-F district emir Maulana Abdul Rahim. Party’s general secretary Maulana Samiullah Mujahid and other office-bearers were also in attendance.

The meeting discussed matters pertaining to party’s organisational structure, performance of MPAs and tehsil governments and preparations for the general elections.

A local leader privy to the meeting said the participants unanimously decided to seek applications from aspiring contenders for award of party tickets.

“The district shura will recommend names to the provincial and central leadership of the party for award of tickets after the completion of the process of submitting applications,” said a local leader. He said members of shura would take into consideration the services and sacrifices of the candidates before forwarding their names to the party’s high command for approval.

The JUI-F has a stronghold in local electoral politics with a major vote bank in the district, he maintained, saying party tickets for general elections would be distributed purely on merit. The JUI-F leader said the party had swept last general elections by winning all the three provincial and one national assembly seats and it would sweep the coming polls as well.

MINOR KILLED IN ROOF COLLAPSE: Torrential rains coupled with strong winds played havoc in rural localities of the district, killing a minor and injuring his mother when roof a house collapsed in Shah Hasankhel village.

The victim was named Ameerullah, 4, and his injured mother was shifted to rural health centre in Ahmadkhel for treatment.

The rain and storm damaged houses in rural areas and uprooted trees, causing suspension of traffic to several villages. The villagers said the natural calamity also caused disruption of power supply to their localities.

District nazim Ishfaq Ahmad Khan Meenakhel visited the rain and storm-hit villages and assured provision of prompt relief to the affected people.

Published in Dawn, August 13th, 2017